Cartridge dispenser



Oct. 15, 1968 J LENZ ET AL CARTRIDGE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1966 /N l/EN 7019.5. JAMES E. LEA/Z A ENNET H MOI-M BYW k ATTO/PNEY (kt. 15, 1968 J. E. LENZ. ET AL CARTRIDGE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 6, 1966 /N YEA/TOPS.

JAMEI? E. LEA Z KENNETH J MOI-1'4 ATTOQNIEY United States Patent 3,405,844 CARTRIDGE DISPENSER James E. Lenz and Kenneth J. Mohr, Early, Iowa, assignors to Lenco Inc. of Early, Early, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 555,485 8 Claims. (Cl. 222--162) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for dispensing materials that preferably are in granular or powder form or the like, and more particularly it is concerned with an expendable, throw-away cartridge container having dispensing means associated therewith.

One of the important objects contemplated by this invention is the provision of an expendable cartridge as indicated above whereby the contents of such cartridge can be stored, transported and dispensed without the necessity of being touched or handled by any person or persons who may be involved with the use thereof.

While the present invention will be susceptible of use with a variety of materials including fluids, as will later appear, it has special utility for use with such materials as insecticides and herbicides where contact of such materials with a persons skin or the breathing of dust therefrom is very deleterious to human health. The use of these materials is very widespread particularly in agricultural areas but also in urban areas on a more limited scale, and while there are many advantages to their use, the dangers to human health is so vital and important that much publicity has been generated on what should be done after a person has been exposed to contamination. The health of many persons is seriously affected every year from exposure to and contact with insecticides and herbicides because presently such materials are packaged in bags that cannot only become easily torn or ruptured so as to spill their contents but from which the contents must be poured into one of many different dispensing and metering application devices that are available. Invariably in the physical handling of these materials as presently required, one is more likely than not to come in contact with them by touch or breathing and suffer considerable injury to their health.

With these observations in mind this invention contemplates overcoming these disadvantages in the handling of materials of the type referred to by providing a new throwaway type of cartridge container which has a single valved opening that can be used for both filling the cartridge where the materials are manufactured or prepared and for dispensing them at the point of use.

A further object herein is to provide a cartridge dispenser of the above class which is designed for use with dispensing and metering applicator devices already available for the materials indicated. In this regard, a further object is to provide that our new cartridge may be easily placed into and removed from such dispensing and metering applicator devices and by reason of a novel valved opening, such opening is automatically opened when the cartridge is placed in the applicator whereby the contents of the cartridge are dispensed into such applicator.

A still further object is to provide that the opening in the cartridge is automatically closed when the cartridge is removed from the applicator.

Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide a cartridge as set forth which is Water and moisture tight for the purposes of eliminating spoilage and damage to the contents from such causes.

Still another object contemplated herein is provision of a valve locking means to lock the valve in closed position against accidental actuation in situations where such opening should be closed such as in storage or transportation.

A further feature of this invention resides in the design of our cartridge being such that it includes an integral ice cover which is adapted to provide a tight closure over the applicator in which this cartridge is used.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein, or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cartridge of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 but showing the cartridge of FIG. 1 nested within a material applicator device of a well known design.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the valved opening in this cartridge shown in open position,

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the valve closed,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the valve actuating assembly shown in operable position in solid lines and shown in locked position in broken lines,

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating this cartridge with two partitioned chambers each having :1 respective valved opening,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modification to permit the cartridge to have a greater capacity, and

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 7 except that the double cartridges are slightly spaced apart over the major extent of their height rather than partitioned as in FIG. 7 and is for the purpose of use with applicator devices that have partitions or dividers.

Referring to the drawings, a hopper 10 represents generally one of many well known hopper components on a material metering and dispensing applicator for insecticides and herbicides. Such hoppers as presently used may be of different shapes such as generally rectangular or square; will be an open top type of container and will terminate at the bottom in a dispensing opening 12 which will communicate with appropriate metering and dispensing apparatus illustrated schematically and in part at 14 as is well known and to which no invention is claimed. Hole 12 is customarily covered with a screen 16 and according to present practices, material to be metered is poured or dumped in the hopper It A detachable snap on cover (not shown) is usually provided for hopper 10 to engage the peripheral curled lip 38 at the top but such a separate cover is no longer required with our cartridge as will later appear.

With reference now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3-6, our new cartridg is designated generally by the numeral 20. No specific shape is required for cartridge 2t and we have preferably made it generally rectangular and since it is designed to be placed within a hopper 10, it will be understood that the overall dimensions of the cartridge will be such as to permit its use in this manner. The bottom of the cartridge 20 converges in a more or less funnel-like manner to an opening 22 to assure the flow therethrough by gravity of the contents of the cartridge. The top of cartridge is sealed by the integral panel 24 which includes two opposed folded under edges 26-26 for a snap-on fit with two opposed lips 18 on hopper it If cartridge 24 is designed for a specific hopper, or vice versa, all four sides of panel 24 may have the fold 25, but where this may not be the case, additional panels 28 and 30 are hingedly attached to panel 24 and provided with-respective folded edges 32 and 34. It is the purpose here to provide that panels 24, 28 and 30 in combination will cooperate to provide a suitable snapon cover for the hopper in which cartridge 20 is used. Such panels as 28 and 30 are hinged to permit of folding to the broken line position in FIG. 1 for purposes of storage and transportation and edges or lips 32 and 34 can be releasably locked in folded position by engage- 3 ment with the beads 36 on the side of cartridge 20. To facilitate the handling of this cartridge, a suitable handle means is provided on panel 24 as illustrated at 37.

Cartridge 20 is made from a light weight material such as plastic, Styrofoam or the like and is preferably of a rigid character as distinguished from a collapsible bag type container. Also it is preferably of water proof material although this is not required if, in its use, the Waterproof charcteristic is not desired or required. In general, cartridge 20 should be adequate for its intended use, but sufliciently economical that it can be discarded once the contents are emptied.

Tapered leg members 38 depend from each bottom corner of cartridge 20 and serve to stabilize the cartridge when it is being used. However, this cartridge may be used without such legs, if desired.

Fitted into opening 22 so as to depend therefromis the valve assembly 40 which includes a sleeve 42 secured therein in any suitable manner. The inserted end of sleeve 42 defines an inwardly extending annual shoulder 44 for which the top side within the cart-ridge serves as a valve seat. A cone shaped valve 46 with its apex end disposed toward the top of the cartridge is seatable on seat 44 and vertically movably relative thereto as follows: A valve actuating plunger assembly 48 as best seen in FIG. includes a stationary rod portion 50 for threadable attachment at its upper end to valve 46 and to a spider member 52. Spider 52 includes a plurality of legs 54 having hooked ends 56, and a spring 58 abuts the hook ends 56 and the other end abuts the underside of shoulder. 44. Thus far described, spring 58 normally urges valve 46 into closed position and in this regard, it will be understood that seat 44 may be provided with an O-ring or the like if desired.

The bottom end of rod 50 is secured to a lock block or look mount 60 having the longitudinal bore 62. Pivotally connected by pin 64 to the lower end of the stationary rod 50 so that it can be aligned axially therewith in bore 62 or moved angularly in relation thereto as will appear, is the movable portion of the plunger actuating rod 66 which terminates in a disc-like or flangelike plate 68. The bottom of block 60 is provided with a key hole slot 70 (FIG. 6) and rod 66, when in the position shown in FIG. 5 where the plane of plate 68 is below the bottom plane of legs 38, is locked in slot 70 in axial alignment with rod 50 whereby pressure on plate 68 will effect the longitudinal movement of rods 66 and and the corresponding opening of valve 46. Likewise, removal of pressure on plate 68 will cause spring 58 to return valve 46 to closed position. In this regard, it will be understood that plate 68 is below legs 38 a sufficient distance to permit the operation of valve 46 as described.

Slot 70 communicates with a like key hole slot 72 in the bottom side portion of block 60 so that rod portion 66 can be pivoted relative to rod 50 and moved out of slot 70 and into slot 72 where it is locked at an angular position to rod 50 as seen in FIG. 5.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the bottom of block 60 is well recessed Within sleeve 42 and such sleeve is provided with a bayonet slot 74 communicating with the bottom end of such sleeve as seen in FIG. 1 and in registration with slot 72 in block 60. Thus, when rod 66 is moved into slot 72 in block 60, it also moves into slot 74 in sleeve 42 and it will be understood that at such time valve 46 is in closed position and plate 68 is now positioned above the bottom edge of block '60 so that rod 66 abuts the top of slot 74 whereby plunger assembly 48 cannot be moved upwardly to open valve 46. Also, since the entire plunger assembly 48 and valve 46 are rotatable, rod 66 can be easily moved laterally for locking engagement in the recess 76 of slot 74 whereby rod 66 is not only prevented from an accidental downward movement back to operable position, but by providing a slight downwardly incline of portion 78 of slot 74 leading to recess 76, a

downwardly pressure is exerted on spring 58 which enhances the sealing contact of valve 46 on seat 44.

With reference now to FIGS. 7-9, we have illustrated certain variations of fee cartridge which are functionally the same as described above but vary in design as follows wherein like parts will be given like numerals. The cartridge unit 80 is similar to cartridge 20 but is divided by partition 82 into the two material receiving chambers or compartments 84 and 86, each of which is provided at the bottom with a valve assembly 40 as described. The purpose of cartridge 80 is merely to provide means for handling different materials at the same time, if desired and, of course, it will be appreciated that if such materials are not used simultaneously, one valve .assembly 40 can be open and one locked in closed position.'Cartridge 80 also represents a unit adapted to fit a particular applicator whereby a single integral cover 88-is provided for a suitable snap-fit attachment to such applicator.

The cartridge unit 92 of FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 1 but is designed for a greater material capacity by the additionof portion 94 which rises above the plane of the cover panels 28 and 30. Portion 94 has the top 96 as shown and lips 98 are provided on the cartridge body to complement lips 32 and 34 in providing a cover on the applicator with which such cartridge will be used.

FIG. 9 is substantially the same. as FIG. 7 with like numerals applied to like parts but the compartments 84 and 86 are separated by the spacing 100 rather than a partition 82. The purpose of this arrangement is to accommodate this new cartridge unit to those type of applicators which may have a center partition as a part of its basic design.

Operation In describing the operation of this invention, reference will be made to cartridge 20 and it will be understood that the variations illustrated will operate in the same manner.

Cartridge 20 will be filled at the source ofmanufacture or processing for the material to be used and such filling will be accomplished through opening 22 which, as pointed out, is the only opening in the cartridge. It will be appreciated that such filling may be accomplished in a variety of ways and by reason of the locking facility afforded to valve assembly 40, this may be a vacuum process so that the contents will be safe from deterioration pending use. Such cartridges when filled, can be easily stored and transported and if made of waterproof material, the contents will not sufier from moisture or water if they should become exposed thereto.

To use the cartridge 20, it is inserted into an applicator as seen in FIG. 1 and before doing this, rod 66 will be moved to its operable position shown in FIG. 5 where valve 46 is still closed but ready for actuation. Legs 83 may bear against the inner sides of the applicator to aid in holding the cartridge upright although this is not necessarily required as the panels 28 and 30 will serve the same purpose. However, in the use of successive cartridges in any given applicator, there may be a residue of material in the bottom of the applicator and the pointed ends of legs 38tend to penetrate such residue and aid in properly seating the cartridge as follows.

In inserting cartridge 20 into the applicator as described, plate 68 will come to rest on screen 16 as seen in FIG. 1 and as the cartridge is then depressed to clamp panels 28 and 30, plunger assembly 40 Will move upwardly to open valve 46 whereby the material in the cartridge will flow through opening 22 into the applicator. It will be noted that the bottom of cartridge 20 is spaced above the bottom of the applicator to provide a material accumulation or reserve chamber 102 from which the material will flow into the metering and dispensing unit 14 in a well known manner. It might also be mentioned that some applicators are of transparent material so that the level in chamber 102 can be visually observed. Thus far described, it will be appreciated that the contents of cartridge 20 can be effectively loaded into the applicator and dispensed therefrom without any necessity for physical contact therewith by any personnel and likewise no dust is created which can affect such personnel as pointed out earlier.

In removing a cartridge after it is completely empty or even partially empty, it is merely lifted out and as this is done, spring 58 will automatically close, valve 46 while it is still in the area defined by chamber 102. If the cartridge is empty, it is discarded, and if not empty, the valve assembly 40 can be washed or hosed off, rod 66 moved to a locked position as described and the cartridge can be retained for further use, if desired.

The advantages of this cartridge in handling materials such as insecticides and herbicides which can be very harmful to humans should be obvious from the foregoing description but it will be apparent that such cartridges can be used with many other materials including liquids that may be supplied to metering and dispensing apparatus therefor. One such example of further use for this cartridge is to provide a premeasured amount of pre-packaged corn seed to conventional corn planting devices. Such devices presently use large supply containers into which the seed is placed for processing through the planter and such seeds usually require several days after planting to start germinating. With our cartridge, seeds can be processed to the point of germination, vacuum packed in one of these new cartridges and then when dispensed into the planter and planted, germination will start almost immediately and thus save several days of time over present methods.

From the foregoing it is thought a full understanding of construction and operation of this invention will be had and the advantages of the same will be appreciated.

It will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not for limitation and that modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of this invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit and purpose thereof. It is thus intended to cover by the claims, any modified forms of structure or mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. A cartridge dispenser apparatus comprising:

an enclosed container having a top and a bottom and provided with an opening in said bottom,

a normally closed valve assembly carried by said container,

said valve assembly including:

a valve seat disposed in said opening,

a valve seated on said valve seat,

a spring loaded slidable plunger rod assembly connected to said valve and having a member depending below the bottom of said container,

the placement of said container on a supporting surface causing said depending member to engage said supporting surface whereby said member is retracted to unseat said valve,

upon the removal of said depending member from said supporting surface, said plunger rod assembly acts to automatically re-seat said valve,

a sleeve secured to the bottom of said container so as to encase said plunger rod assembly,

said plunger rod assembly including:

a fixed rod member secured at one end to said valve,

a lock block secured to the other end of said fixed rod member and movable therewith and recessed within said sleeve,

a movable rod member pivotally attached at one end to said other end of said fixed rod member,

means on said lock block locking said movable rod member in axial alignment with said fixed rod member whereby the other end of said movable rod member projects downwardly from said sleeve for engagement with said supporting surface, means on said lock block affording movement of said movable rod member out of axial alignment with said first rod member to an inoperable position above the plane of the bottom of said sleeve and out of contact position with said supporting surface, and

said last mentioned means also serving to lock said movable member in inoperable position.

2. A device defined in claim 1 including locking means carried by said valve assembly to render said depending member immobile.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is of waterproof material and said valve is in water and air tight sealing engagement with said valve seat.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is provided with bayonet notch communicating with the bottom of said sleeve and said movable rod member is engaged in said notch to be held against accidental movement to an axially aligned position with said fixed rod member.

5. A device as defined .in claim 1 wherein said notch includes a vertical portion and a lateral portion and said lateral portion is inclined downwardly to apply a downward pressure on said plunger rod assembly and enhance the sealing contact of said valve on said valve seat.

6. An expendable material containing cartridge to be inserted into apparatus for metering and dispensing the contents of said cartridge, said apparatus being of the type defining an open top hopper-like body with metering and dispensing mechanism in the bottom thereof; said cartridge comprising,

an enclosed container having a top and a bottom and provided with an opening in said bottom,

said opening serving both as the port for the filling of said cartridge and as the port for the dispensing of the contents of said cartridge,

a valve assembly disposed in said opening so as to normally close the same, said valve assembly including a movable valve actuating member which in operable position projects downwardly from the bottom of said container,

the placement of said container on a supporting surface causing said depending member to engage said supporting surface whereby said member is retracted to unseat said valve,

upon the removal of said depending member from said supporting surface, said plunger rod assembly acts to automatically re-seat said valve, and

the top of said container defining a cover means for releasable attachment to the top of said hopper-like body to serve as a closure therefor.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 including locking means carried by said valve assembly to render said valve actuating member inoperable.

8. A cartridge dispenser apparatus comprising:

an enclosed container having a top and a bottom and provided with an opening in said bottom,

said opening serving both as the port for the filling of said cartridge and as the port for the dispensing of the contents of said cartridge,

a valve assembly disposed in said opening so as to normally close the same,

said valve assembly including a valve normally in closed position relative to said opening and a spring loaded plunger rod assembly connected to said valve for unseating the same,

said plunger rod assembly including first and second rod members of which said first rod member is fixedly attached at one end to said valve and one end of said second rod member is pivotally attached to the other end of said first rod member,

means on said valve assembly locking said rod members in axial alignment whereby a force applied to the free end of said second rod member will be 1,475 600 11/1923 Schling 222162 X transferred through said first rod member to unseat 1,772,545 8/1930 Hilty 222-162 X said valve, and 2,618,410 12/1952 Merow 222162 X means carried by said valve assembly for locking said v second rod member in an angular position relative 5 I FOREIGN PATENTS to said first rod member whereby said first rod mem- ,38 5 11/1961 Great Britain ber is prevented from acting on said valve.

References Cited ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. UNITED STATES PATENTS HADD S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

681,197 8/1901 Cooper 222-1 2 x 

1. A CARTRIDGE DISPENSER APPARATUS COMPRISING : AN ENCLOSED CONTAINER HAVING A TOP AND A BOTTOM AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING IN SAID BOTTOM, A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE ASSEMBLY CARRIED BY SAID CONTAINER, SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING: A VALVE SEAT DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING, A VALVE SEATED ON SAID VALVE SEAT, A SPRING LOADED SLIDABLE PLUNGER ROD ASSEMBLY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE AND HAVING A MEMBER DEPENDING BELOW THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, THE PLACEMENT OF SAID CONTAINER ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE CAUSING SAID DEPENDING MEMBER TO ENGAGE SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE WHEREBY SAID MEMBER IS RETRACTED TO UNSEAT SAID VALVE, UPON THE REMOVAL OF SAID DEPENDING MEMBER FROM SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID PLUNGER ROD ASSEMBLY ACTS TO AUTOMATICALLY RE-SEAT SAID VALVE, A SLEEVE SECURD TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER SO AS TO ENCASE SAID PLUNGER ROD ASSEMBLY, SAID PLUNGER ROD ASSEMBLY INCLUDING: A FIXED ROD MEMBER SECURED AT ONE END OF SAID VALVE, A LOCK BLOCK SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FIXED ROD MEMBER SAID MOVABLE THEREWITH AND RECESSED WITHIN SAID SLEEVE, A MOVABLE ROD MEMBER PIVOTALLY ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID OTHER END OF SAID FIXED ROD MEMBER, MEANS ON SAID LOCK BLOCK LOCKING SAID MOVABLE ROD MEMBER IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIXED ROD MEMBER WHEREBY THE OTHER END OF SAID MOVABLE ROD MEMBER PROJECTS DOWNWARDLY FORM SAID SLEEVE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, MEANS ON SAID LOCK BLOCK AFFORDING MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ROD MEMBER OUT OF AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST ROD MEMBER TO AN INOPERABLE POSITION ABOVE THE PLANE OF THE BOTTOM OF SAID SLEEVE AND OUT OF CONTACT POSITION WITH SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, AND SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS ALSO SERVING TO LOCK SAID MOVABLE MEMBER IN INOPERABLE POSITION. 